White House Defends Social Security After Musk’s Fraud Claims

Elon Musk’s remarks on entitlement spending spark political backlash, while the Trump administration reaffirms its commitment to preserving benefits.

Elon Musk, a key adviser in the Trump administration, claimed in a Fox Business interview that fraud in entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare costs taxpayers $500–$700 billion annually.
The White House issued a statement reiterating that President Trump will not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits, emphasizing Musk’s focus on eliminating waste and fraud rather than reducing benefits.
Democrats, including Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Elissa Slotkin, accused Musk of using fraud claims as a pretext for potential cuts to entitlement programs, which they argue would harm millions of Americans.
Experts and commentators have questioned Musk’s claims, noting that the alleged levels of fraud he cited lack evidence and that savings of the magnitude he proposed would likely require benefit reductions.
The controversy has highlighted broader political tensions over entitlement spending, with Democrats seizing on Musk’s comments to criticize Republican fiscal policies ahead of upcoming elections.